Electrical connecter



March 3, 1%32. J. M GRIBBIE ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Filed Feb. 2, 1929 i aam' ,lmllllluuuu l Patented Mar. 1932 JOHN M. GRIBIBIE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB- 'I'O SHAKEPROOE LOCK WASHER UNITE!) STATES PATENT OFFICE COMPANYIOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION-OF DELAWARE nnnc'rmcan coimnornn.

Application filed February '2, 1929; Serial No. 837,048.

invention relates to electrical connecters and particularly to the type of connecters adapted to be clamped in position upon ter-,

minal posts and the like by screw heads or other similar clamping members.

One of the primary objects of my present invention is to provide a connecter adapted, terminal of an elec-' for association with the trical conductor which is so designed as to permit of its being inserted beneath a binding screw head'or the like without the necessity of first completely removing the screw,- said connecter being also oonfigurated so as to present work ,engaging teeth .which serve to secure said connecter against inadvertent displacemen g Another object of my invention is to pro- I vide a connector as above set forth for asso-.

ciation beneath the head ofa binding screw,

said connecter being provided with a mar'-,. ginal abutment which will serve eflectively:

to prevent said connecter from being disassociated from the screw-until the same has been backed off a predetermined amount.

, Still more specifically,

necter which, in addition to the marginal abutment as above described, is also proas viewed from the right with t vided with a'plurality of work engagingteeth which are twisted outof the plane of the connecter body, thereby providing eifective means for preventin the'inadvertent backing off or loosening o he screw.

These and numerous other objects will be more apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection Figure 1 is a plan viewof an electrical ,connecterfembodying features of my inveneing secured to the termy invention contemplates the PIOVlSlOIl of an electrical con e accompanying drawings, wherein-i binding screw and terminal post being shown in full lines as distinguished from the dot and dash lines of Figures-1 and 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view of,a modified or flat type connecte r,-the same being provided with a flat numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various figures, it will be observed that inFigures 1 to 45inclusive I have disclosed an electrical connecter indicated generally by the numeral 10 which is representative of one embodiment of Q my present invention: This connecter '10 comprises a body portion 12 which is provided at one end with a shank 14. This shank 14 is adapted to encircle the terminal of a conventional flexible conductor or wire 16 as clearlyshown in Fi ures l and 3. The

other end of the body 12 15 provided with an inserted between the head of a conventional bindlng screw 20 aperture 18 which is desigiraled to readily permit the connecter 10 to and another work surface such as the upper extremity of a terminal post '24. The inner portion of the opening ,or slot 18 is shaped to conform with the threaded screw 20'and a marginal portion of a body- 12 adjacent said slot is-provided with a plurality of prongs or teeth 26, the corners of which are twisted means for securing -against inadvertent displacement.

In theparticular embodiment of the inveli tion shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive I have shown the body portion 12 as being provided with. a marginal abutment or flange 28.

tively preventing the disassociation o connecter from the binding screw until said screw has been backed off a predetermined t order to removethe-connecter from the binding screw t is necessary amount. Thus, in

to move the screw head through a distancetype shank adapted to be con-f nected with the terminal of a conductor; and

portion of the out of the plane of the body 12. These teeth provlde very effective the binding screw 20.

This flange 28 provides an effective means for Emili which is suificient to permit the upper edge of the flange 28 to clear .the lower surface of said screw head. The provision of this marginal abutment not only prevents the disen gagement of the connecter when the screw is initially loosened but also prevents the connecter from being forced laterally of the screw when the head thereof is being tightened against the connecter. There is a normal tendency for a slotted connecter to be forced laterally of the screw when the headis being ti htened thereagainst and this tendency is positively counteracted by the abutment or flange 28 which, under such circumstances, is moved into engagement with the periphery of the screw head, thereby preventing further lateral displacement of the connecter. In other words, the abutment prevents the connecter from slipping ofl while the screw is being tightened and also prevents the connector from slipping off until the screw has been backed oflI' sufficiently to permit the flange and the twisted teethto pass under the hea 7 In Figures 5 and 6 I have disclosed a flat type connecter or terminal indicated by the numeral 10a which includes a flat body portion 12a and a flat shank 14@ formed integral therewith. The outer end of the shank 14a is provided with apertures 30 which are adapted to receive the terminal of a flexible conductor. The body 12a is formed with a slot 18-a which corresponds to the slot 18 employed.

in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive and bordering a portion of this slot 18a is a plurality of twisted or warped locking teeth 26a. The

corner portions of these teeth 26-a like the corner portions of the teeth 26 are projected out of the plane of the body portion in a position to elfectively interlock with the work between which theyv are clamped. The connecter 10a d iifers from the connecter '10 in that the marginal abutment or flange 28 is not -From the foregoing it will be apparent that my invention contemplates the provitioned within cabinets or casings which-render the same more or less inacc ssible. In most instances these screws can e reached by inserting a screw driver but in the event that they are completely unscrewed itis twisted teeth.

with radio parts often difficult to replace the screws by reason of the limited spacesurrounding the same. The twisted teeth serve not only to lock the binding screw in position but also insure proper electrical contact between the connecter and the adjacent parts. The marginal abutment 28 provides an additional means for securing the connecter against inadvertent displacement. The connecter cannot slip off until the binding screw has been reversed sufficiently to enable the abutment and the teeth to pass beneath the screw head and this arrangement provides an additional safe guard against the tendency of terminals to become inadvertently disconnected. As hereinbefore set forth, this marginal abutment or flange also provides a stop which counteracts the tendency for the connecter to be shifted laterally of the screw when said screw is being tightened thereagainst.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An electrical connecter formed from an integral piece'of resilient fiat stock including a shank portion for receiving the terminal of a conductor, an enlarged section having an elongated aperture, said aperture presenting a mouth at the side of the enlarged section for laterally receiving a terminal screw, a plurality of teeth warped out of the plane of the resilient stock of said enlarged section so as to present corners on opposite sides thereof, said teeth being formed integral with said enlarged section adjacent the inner portion of said elongated aperture and adapted to insure electrical contact and prevent inadvertent loosening of the screw, and a marginal flange extending laterally of and formed integral with the enlarged section, said flange terminating at the mouth of said elongated aperture and providing means whereby said connecter cannot be removed from a screw until the head thereof has been moved out of contact with respect to said In. witness whereof, I'have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHNM; GRIBBIE. 

